Mid-Trip Report

I find myself writing this in the beautiful city of Vienna. There have been a number of experiences that I have enjoyed thus far and I'm certain there will be more to come.

It does not come as a surprise the the cities that we have traveled to have been full of great architecture, sights, and history. The sightseeing and food have been great, but we have gotten to hear stories from several women leaders that have added a whole other dimension to our experience here.

In Hungary, we learned about the system that is in place to allow mothers the opportunity to stay at home when they have children. They are paid 70% of their prior salary if they are insured, and oftentimes, their employers supplement that with the remaining 30%. This is in place for two years and by law, the employers have to hold their positions for when they return. This salary coverage can be used for up to 3 children and the mother can take time off until her youngest child reaches the age of 8. Although this may seem like a very good deal for us in the States, it is still removing the mother from the workforce and it is often difficult for her to get back into it when she returns. Although she has a guaranteed job, her employer can fire her after she has been back for a month if she is not holding up to their performance standards. These policies are still a way to keep women out of the workforce and Hungarian women do face the obstacles of balancing motherhood and their professional lives. Even if a mother wants to keep working, if she does not take this time off, she is looked down upon as a bad parent.

These difficulties aside, the women that we were able to speak with were very successful in balancing their professional and personal lives. They seem to have succeeded and enjoy the work they are doing. We will be meeting with Viennese scientists tomorrow and I'm sure we will get a completely different perspective from them.